SciFiAndTvTalk

Eureka's Colin Ferguson Visits Lake Placid 3 This Weekend

Colin Ferguson (as Nathan Bickerman) in Lake Placid 3. Photo copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

DEBUTING Saturday, August 21, at 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on The Syfy Channel, Lake Placid 3 stars Colin Ferguson (Eureka's Sheriff Jack Carter) as a game warden who moves his family to Lake Placid, once the site of deadly crocodile attacks. Locals assure him the crocs are gone, but his mischievous young son finds a few baby crocs and begins feeding them. They quickly grow into very big adults and start attacking the game warden’s family and nearby town.  Lake Placid 3 also stars Yancy Butler (Kick-Ass) and Michael Ironside (Terminator Salvation). A UFO production for Sony.

Things look none too good for Yancy Butler's character in Lake Placid 3. Photo copyright of The Syfy Channel.

All is quiet as Nathan (Colin Ferguson) walks the lake...or is it? Photo copyright of The Syfy Channel.

Michael Ironside and Colin Ferguson in Lake Placid 3. Photo copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

As noted above, all photos copyright of The Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks! 

Eureka's Niall Matter - A Matter Of Interest

Actor Niall Matter as Eureka's Zane Donovan. Photo by Art Streiber and copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

In life we all make mistakes, some people more than others, and some mistakes are worse than others. In the season two Eureka episode E+MC...?, an antisocial computer whiz named Zane Donovan makes the mistake of crashing the New York Stock Exchange. However, instead of being thrown in jail, the government hands him over to Eureka and the town's local think tank, Global Dynamics, where it hopes Zane's talents can be put to better use.

While still no angel, this misguided techie has since succeeded in turning his life around. This includes winning over the town's deputy, Jo Lupo. In the show's fourth season opener Founder's Day, he asks Jo to marry him, but much to Zane's surprise, she turns him down. Not long after, Jo and four other residents are inexplicably whisked back in time to 1947, and when they return to the present, situations as well as people have changed, including Zane. He is once again the bad boy hacker on probation with GD. As for his romance with Jo, in this time-line, it never was. For actor Niall Matter, who plays Zane, it required him to in many ways start over with his character, which he took to like a proverbial fish to water.

"Stepping back into the Zane role was great this season, because when Founder's Day opened I got to play the character that he evolved into last year, and then by the end of the episode we're introduced to this new version of Zane," says Matter. "He's kind of similar to the one we first met back in season two, but not quite because he's got more of an edge to him, which I was excited about. I've really been given the opportunity to reinvent Zane, which is pretty cool.

"The biggest change with my character is, of course, his relationship with Jo [Erica Cerra]. I thought it was terrific to get to the point that we did between her and Zane, but it was also interesting to suddenly wipe that all away and then get a chance to rebuild it. As an actor, I saw that as a challenge because it meant I head to emotionally disconnect Zane from Lupo in the way that they'd been interacting, and then I was able to actually create a different back story for the new Zane insofar as the fact that he has never related to her in that [romantic] way before.

In this time-line, things have cooled considerably between Zane (Matter) and Jo Lupo (Erica Cerra). Photo by Art Streiber and copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

"And the neat thing about that is that I have so much more going on in my scenes now with Erica because there's all this new subtext to play with. From one perspective, her character is putting out a certain vibe towards this Zane that he doesn't understand, so he's trying to figure that out. At the same time, he's flirting with Jo, but in a way that kind of gets under her skin a little bit. Zane knows something else is bothering Jo, though. He senses that right from the get-go in the scene where she finds Zane locked up in the sheriff's office at the end of Founder's Day. So trying to figure that out and put those pieces of the puzzle together has been a great deal of fun this season."

One thing that has not changed this year on Eureka is that the Pacific Northwest town is still the epicenter of scientific mishaps, usually courtesy of the great minds at GD. In season four's All the Rage, Zane is among those stricken with a condition that causes uncontrollable anger and, if left untreated, eventually leads to death.

"All the Rage is probably my favorite Eureka episode that I've shot so far because it's so different from anything else I've done on the show," notes Matter. "It was totally uninhibited. I got to go off the deep end and bring a lot of power as well as rage to my performance as Zane.

"I especially enjoyed the fight sequence he had with the guard because it gave me the chance to get physical. I'm not sure of any of the fans have noticed, but I packed on 17 pounds of muscle during the off-season. Stature-wise I'm bigger now, and that's because I'm focusing more on that action-type guy image.

Zane's (Matter) day gets  off to a bad start in "The Story of O2." Photo by Eike Schroter and copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

"So I was really pleased to step into that kind of situation early on this season on Eureka and actually put my new physical condition to use. I also enjoyed getting to work with amazing stuntmen. This one guy who I had to disarm actually took my elbow in the face during every single take. He told me full-out, full-on hit him in the face. I said to him, 'Are you kidding me? Are you sure about this?' He said, 'Yeah, I can take it. Let's make this look as real as possible." So I came out swinging and kept elbowing him in the face. I probably did it about 10 times and at the end of the day he was like, 'Dude, that was awesome.' Meanwhile, the underside of my arm was all cut up from making contact with his face," says the actor with a chuckle.

"Again, it was amazing to get to do something like that myself. Of course, we had to choreograph everything beforehand, especially where I was making contact with this stuntman. You have to be really careful because if I was one inch higher with my elbow, I could have broken his nose. I had to hit him on the soft tissue of his face, so it's got to be exact, and the thing is I was moving fast. In that scene, I disarm him, whip around and elbow him in the face within seconds. So getting to work on that level of precision was pretty thrilling for me."

Matter laughs when asked about filming the episode The Story of O2, in which a new chemical substance created by Dr. Ramsey (Jamie Kennedy) has an unexpected effect on poor Zane. "When I first read the script I thought, 'Oh, no, I've got to play drunk,'" he recalls. "It wasn't drunk per say, but the audience had to think my character was intoxicated, and playing that condition is one of the hardest things for an actor because if you do too much it doesn't read, and if you do too little it doesn't read either.

"So there's kind of an in-between that you have to try to hit, which was tricky to do, but in the end I think we found a good balance. Colin Ferguson [Sheriff Jack Carter] directed this episode and he helped me a lot as far as feeling that out and helping me with that state. I listen to every single thing that Colin says because he knows the show so well and knows exactly what he's looking for. He's able to direct an actor in a way that doesn't make you feel as if he's stepping on your performance at all. Colin can draw exactly what he wants out of you. He's probably one of the most talented directors I've worked with so far in my career. Again, it could be because it's his show and he's so familiar with it, but I think it's also because of the way Colin's mind works. He sees the bigger picture, which I respect, and when he asks me to do anything I make sure to give it my best."

Zane (Matter), Dr. Trevor Grant (James Callis, back), Sheriff Andy (Ty Olsson), Sheriff Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) and Jo Lupo (Erica Cerra) in "A New World." Photo by Eike Schroter and copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

When Jo, Sheriff Carter, Dr. Allison Blake (Salli Richardson-Whitfield), Henry Deacon (Joe Morton) and Douglas Fargo (Neil Grayston) return to 2010 after their visit to 1947, they never expected the man who helped them get back, Dr. Trevor Grant (James Callis), to tag along for the "ride." Although he and the others promise at the end of the episode A New World, not to reveal who, in fact, he really is or how they met, it appears that at least part of their secret is destined to be uncovered.

"There are episodes coming up where my character starts putting two and two together in regards to catching on to Dr. Grant," reveals Matter. "Zane is not sure whether or not he trusts this guy fully. He definitely knows there's something fishy about Grant, and when he starts looking into things, Zane discovers that something is out of place with him, and it's got to do with Jo and the four other people who went back in time."

Eureka's creative team took a gamble this season when deciding to reset certain aspects of the series together with some of the characters' established story arcs, but their efforts have paid off, in particular when it comes to ratings. As for Matter, he could not be happier with the direction in which the show's writers have taken Zane.

"I'm really pleased with what the show has given me to do this year," enthuses the actor. "Zane's story arc and my rediscovery of the character has been a blast for me. In season three, I felt like Zane got caught in a little bit of a trap where he was just following around after Jo. This year, however, a number of his story lines are more focused on where Zane fits into things now that he's kind of the outcast again.

Zane Donovan (Matter), Jo Lupo (Erica Cerra) and Douglas Fargo (Neil Grayston). Photo by Art Streiber and copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

"So now he's working at establishing good, positive relationships with the other characters. After all, you can't be the guy who everyone hates forever, right?" jokes Matter. "There's got to be some evolution, and Zane definitely starts changing and warming up again to people, but it's in a much different way than we saw in the episodes where he first came to Eureka. It's more of a gradual change, though, and I still get to hold on to a lot of his resistance when it comes to dealing with the authority surrounding Global Dynamics, especially with Fargo running it. Let's face it, he and Zane have never exactly seen eye-to-eye or ever really liked one another, which is interesting because in the back half of season four, Zane and Fargo share a pretty traumatic experience and it's going to bring them both closer together than they've ever been before.

"I'm very excited about where my character is headed in the second half of the season. The first episode back we get to see another side of Zane - we get to see his fear. Again, he and Fargo go through a life-and-death situation and Zane doesn't know what to do, so he starts freezing up. It was the first time I ever got to play the character where he completely jams up and doesn't know what to do. And that was fun not to have the answer, because Zane usually does, but in this case, Fargo steps in and becomes the bigger man, which is a fantastic dynamic to see between the two of them.

"There's much more meat to Zane now. I feel like he's a whole new character. I've revamped myself physically, and I think it matches who Zane is in season four. The funny thing is I didn't know that the writers were heading this way with him, but everything has come together perfectly. I guess you could say it's just kind of serendipitous."

During the production break between Eureka's third and fourth seasons, the actor kept busy with a handful of other projects, including a guest-spot in the season one Warehouse 13 episode Duped. In it, he and Eureka castmate Erica Cerra play Gary and Jillian Whitman, a married couple who are using an Artifact to guarantee themselves a winning streak in Las Vegas. Matter also played the recurring role of the seedy Rick Paxton on Melrose Place.

 
Gary Whitman (Matter) in the Warehouse 13 episode "Duped." Photo by Philippe Bosse and copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

"Warehouse 13 was great," he says. "I was with Erica, but we were playing very different characters with a whole other dynamic. They were looking out for each other as a couple and wanting to start a family but then they come in contact with that Artifact, which is slowly but surely sucking the like from my character. However, he was willing to continue to go through that for the sake of their relationship. So my character of Gary was going through a considerable amount of pain in order to get to where he and his wife Jillian wanted to be in life. So it was nice to play that self-sacrificing type of guy, and to do that with Joanne Kelly [Agent Myka Bering] and Eddie McClintock [Agent Pete Lattimer] was a blast. Eddie is hilarious and I had a lot of fun working with him.

"Moving on to Melrose Place, it was fantastic to get onto a show like that because the original was such a huge hit, not to mention getting to step into a character like that, because he's really creepy. Rick comes across as a nice guy, but then he does all these sick things. He's this high-profile music producer with money to burn, and he starts hiring escorts or prostitutes and then drugs them. Talk about a pretty twisted mind, and the challenge there and what I tried to do was play against the archetype of that stereotypical sleaze-bag in order to keep him friendly and likable, and I think it worked out nicely.

"Melrose Place  was actually the show that finally prompted me to get to the gym and get in shape, because my character was shirtless and having sex in every single episode I was in. So that was a very different acting experience altogether than the one I have on Eureka. Plus I got to drive an Aston Martin, which was pretty amazing. It makes me want one, but that won't be for a while, though," jokes Matter.

Steve Eramo

As noted above, all photos by Art Streiber, Eike Schroter of Philippe Bosse and copyright of The Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

The Syfy Channel Announces Its Fall Programming Slate

THE Syfy Channel’s 2010 Fall Programming spans the imagination with new seasons of powerhouses Stargate Universe and Sanctuary, (both moving to Tuesdays), Ghost Hunters, Scare Tactics and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files, Destination Truth traveling to Thursdays, and WWE Friday Night SmackDown climbing into the Syfy ring beginning October 1st. The Autumn primetime schedule also features the premieres of Hollywood Treasure (formerly Hunting Hollywood) and Beast Legends.

For the first time, Syfy’s two most popular original scripted series -- Eureka and Warehouse 13 -- will debut special stand-alone holiday episodes in December, showcasing guests stars Chris Parnell (Saturday Night Live) and Matt Frewer (Eureka), and Judd Hirsch and Paul Blackthorne (Warehouse 13).

Upcoming popular Syfy Saturday Original Movies include Roger Corman’s highly anticipated Sharktopus on September 25th.

Following are highlights ofSyfy’s Fall Programming schedule (all times EST/PST):

Unscripted Programming

GHOST HUNTERS –Returns Wednesday, August 25th, at 9PM –The fall season of Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson and the rest of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) will feature some of the team’s most thrilling locales, including cases at the famous Philadelphia Zoo and the Baseball Hall of Fame. The crew kicks it off with an investigation at the historic Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, New York, where they come away with stunning video evidence of paranormal activity. In addition, the crew will host a trio of special guest investigators at Atlanta’s Rhodes Hall: Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Sheree Whitfield, NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak. 

DESTINATION TRUTH –Season 4 Premieres Thursday, September 9th @ 9pm (NEW NIGHT & TIME) – Syfy’s hit adventure travel series Destination Truth will return for season four -- as anchor of the new Thursday night reality block -- with host Josh Gates taking viewers around the globe in eight all-new episodes, traveling to the farthest corners of the earth in search of answers behind some of the world’s most intriguing unanswered mysteries. The crew’s itinerary will include investigations in Madagascar, Tanzania, Guam, Kenya and Cambodia.  The team will also conduct the first underwater paranormal investigation when they travel to a remote Micronesian island to search for the spirits dwelling in a sunken fleet.  The season kicks off with a trip to Pompeii, where Josh and crew conduct the very first overnight paranormal investigation in the famous ancient city.

BEAST LEGENDS –Series Premiere Thursday, September 9th, at 10PM–The six-part series journeys around the world using scientific data to reconstruct what mythological monsters, from Krakens and Griffins to Fire Dragons, would have been like – if they had ever existed. In each of the hour-long episodes, Beast Legends uncovers historical and eyewitness accounts by zeroing in on archaeological and other physical evidence to assemble the most accurate picture possible of these monsters, from where they might have lived to how they would have behaved. The show then uses the information to create incredibly realistic CG animations of the creatures.

SCARE TACTICS –Returns for Fourth Season Monday, October 4th, at 9PM --  Hosted by Tracy Morgan, star of 30 Rock. Set-up by friends and loved ones, unsuspecting victims are placed into elaborately staged scary situations involving movie-style special effects and makeup. The horror hoaxes are skillfully designed to tap into the wildest fears of the prank's prey.  Viewers laugh along to the hilarious reactions of the show's "stars" as they are caught off guard and on camera.

FACT OR FAKED: PARANORMAL FILES –Series Return Thursday, November 4th, at 9PM – Syfy’s new break-out hit summer series continues with its mission to uncover the truth behind some of the most compelling, mystifying and seemingly unexplainable images caught on camera and posted on the Internet.  The series features former FBI Special Agent Ben Hansen, lead scientist Bill Murphy, effects specialist Larry Caughlin, journalist Jael De Pardo, photography expert Chi-Lan Lieu and stunt expert Austin Porter.  Their quarry is comprised of all unnatural phenomena including ghosts, poltergeist activity, UFOs, strange creature sightings, and unknown energy anomalies.

HOLLYWOOD TREASURE –Series Premiere Thursday, November 4th, at 10PM – Hollywood Treasure is a one-hour, weekly documentary-reality series about the high stakes world of collecting showbiz and pop culture memorabilia, including science fiction and fantasy props and costumes.  The series follows Joe Maddalena, owner of Profiles in History and the world’s largest auctioneer of original movie, television and pop culture collectibles, as he and his crew search for the most compelling, rare, and sought-after Hollywood memorabilia, from the Wicked Witch of the West’s hat and the vintage “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” car to Mary Poppins’ carpet bag.

Scripted Programming

STARGATE UNIVERSE –Season 2 Premieres Tuesday, September 28th, at 9PM (NEW NIGHT) -- Stargate Universe returns with 20 all-new episodes for season two.  SGU follows a band of soldiers, scientists and civilians, who must fend for themselves as they are forced through a Stargate when their hidden base comes under attack. The desperate survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship, which is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth.  In the new season, the team fights to take back the ship from the Lucian Alliance, who transported themselves on board Destiny with plans to take control. The team also discovers their true mission. It's not about going home, it's about going further. Season two guest stars include Robert Knepper (Heroes, Prison Break) and Julie McNiven (Supernatural, Mad Men) for a multi-episode arc in which they portray members of the Lucian Alliance. Also, series star Robert Carlyle (Dr. Nicholas Rush) makes his directorial debut in episode four, Pathogen.

SANCTUARY –Season 3 Premieres Tuesday, September 28th at 10pm (NEW NIGHT) – Syfy’s original series Sanctuaryreturns this fall with an all-new 20-episode season.  Season three picks up from the adrenaline-fueled action of season two, which raised the stakes for the brilliant scientist Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping) and her team, who use their unique combination of instinct, medicine and cutting-edge science and technology to find and aid a clandestine population of beings that the world refuses to believe exist.  In season three, the team will face a host of new and daunting abnormals, embark on adventures with both new and familiar faces and unravel some of the secrets woven through the Sanctuary’s rich past. This season will also feature a two-episode arc for guest-star Polly Walker (Caprica, Rome). Sanctuaryalso stars Robin Dunne as forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman, Agam Darshi as the quick-witted Kate Freelander, Ryan Robbins as tech wiz Henry Foss and Christopher Heyerdahl as the sinister John Druitt. 

WAREHOUSE 13/EUREKA HOLIDAY SPECIALS – Premieres in December – For the first time, Syfy’s two most popular original scripted series will debut special stand-alone holiday episodes. On Warehouse 13, Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) are called upon to hunt down a malevolent Santa Claus -- who terrorizes guest star Paul Blackthorne (The Dresden Files) -- while Artie (Saul Rubinek) and his estranged father, Isadore Weisfelt (guest star Judd Hirsch), reunite after 30 years.

On Eureka, Global Dynamics staffer Dr. Noah Drummer (Chris Parnell/Saturday Night Live) nearly absconds with a volatile experiment. The halls get seriously decked when Dr. Drummer’s unstable hydrogen crystal starts to grow at a frightening rate. Carter (Colin Ferguson) and Henry (Joe Morton) attempt to deal with the potentially explosive crystal, but before long the true scope of the problem is revealed. Former series regular Matt Frewer also returns as Jim Taggert.

WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN –Syfy Series Premiere Friday, October 1st, at 8PM – The ultimate in imagination-based sports entertainment, WWE Friday Night SmackDown® moves to its new home on Syfy. The two-hour show, one of the longest-running, weekly episodic programs on television, features a star-studded cast of WWE Superstars and Divas including The Big Show, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger, Kelly Kelly, Undertaker®, Rey Mysterio®, CM Punk®, Cody Rhodes®, Michelle McCool®, Kelly Kelly and Layla.

Saturday Original Movies

MANDRAKE –Premieres Saturday, September 11th, at 9PM – A group of researchers in search of a mystical Spanish dagger are attacked by a cursed and sentient tree root – the Mandrake. The Mandrake dispatches the researchers one by one and will not be stopped until the dagger is returned to its rightful resting place. Stars Betsy Russell (Saw III, IV, V, VI) and Benito Martinez (The Shield, Saving Grace).

SHARKTOPUS –Premieres Saturday, September 25th, at 9PM – Research scientist (Eric Roberts/The Dark Knight, Heroes) and his  brilliant daughter develop a secret military weapon – a hybrid shark/octopus that can be controlled by electrical implants.  But when the controls break down, the monster goes on a killing rampage at the resort beaches of Mexico.   With a trailer that has gone wildly viral over the last month, Sharktopus is one of Syfy Saturday's most anticipated movies of the year.  Sharktopusis produced by Roger Corman and Julie Corman, and directed by Declan O’Brien (Wrong Turn 3, Cyclops, Monster Ark, Rock Monster).

MONSTERWOLF –Premieres Saturday, October 9th, at 9PM –On the outskirts of a small Louisiana town, a drilling crew sets blast charges to tap an oil deposit -- releasing the Kachinawaya, a Native American animal spirit meant to protect Indian lands from invaders. Stars Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager, Stargate Atlantis) and Jason London (Wildfire).

FOSSILS (working title) –Premieres TBD – Directed by Colin Ferguson/Eureka.When a novelty store owner accidentally brings life to three dinosaur fossils, the giant dinos wreak havoc on the small town and local university.  With the help of some townspeople, the Sheriff fights off the giant beasts. Stars Raoul Trujillo (True Blood) and Steven Brand (The Scorpion King).

THE LOST FUTURE –Premieres TBD – Starring Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings), The Lost Future is set in an exotic and dangerous world in which an isolated tribe battles for survival in a landscape overrun by terrible beasts carrying a mysterious and deadly illness.

Idris Elba's Luther Premieres In October On BBC America

Idris Elba stars in the title role of Luther in this new BBC America series. Photo copyright of the BBC. 

A brilliant detective tormented by the darker side of humanity, John Luther shines a light into the hearts and minds of psychopaths and killers, and the shadowy spaces of his own soul. A BBC America co-production starring The Wire’s Idris Elba (Russell ‘Stringer’ Bell), Luther is a gripping, psychological thriller driven by a brilliant and emotionally impulsive detective. A self-destructive near-genius, Luther might just be as dangerous as the depraved criminals he hunts. In each episode, the murderer’s identity is known from the start, focusing the drama on the psychological duel between predator and prey. Luther premieres Sunday, October 17th @ 10:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

Luther is created and written by Neil Cross, the acclaimed suspense novelist and one of the lead writers on Spooks (known as MI-5 in the States).  He says: "It's an intense psychological thriller which examines not only human depravity but the complex nature of love … and how it's often this – our finest attribute – that leads us into darkness."

Elba, who is also an associate producer on the mini-series, is joined by an all-star cast: Ruth Wilson (The Prisoner, Jane Eyre) is Alice Morgan, beautiful, extraordinarily intelligent and a key witness in Luther's first investigation; Steven Mackintosh (Criminal Justice) is Detective Chief Inspector Ian Reed and Luther's loyal friend and work colleague; Indira Varma (Rome) is Zoe Luther, who's had the strength to walk away from the man she still loves; Paul McGann (Withnail and I, Doctor Who) is Mark North, unafraid to compete with Luther for Zoe's love; Saskia Reeves (Bodies, Blue Murder) is Detective Superintendent Rose Teller, Luther's risk-taking boss and Warren Brown (Occupation) is Detective Sergeant Justin Ripley, Luther's loyal, awestruck new partner.

John Luther follows his own moral code as much as the rules of criminal law.  But as he becomes locked in a lethal battle of wits with Alice, his decision process becomes increasingly murky. The strain begins to tell as he’s drawn deeper into a series of horrific murders, and the shadow of a former case threatens to bring him down.  

Forced to face his own capacity for violence – he struggles with why his wife left him and what draws him to Alice.  As the stakes get higher and more personal, Luther’s lonely path pulls him towards the very edge of temptation. Is he a force for good or a man hell bent on self-destruction?

As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Syfy's Eureka Renewed For Fifth Season

THE Syfy Channel is greenlighting its hit original dramedy Eureka for a fifth season, it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions, which produces the series.

Eureka seems like any other cozy, Pacific Northwest town, but is actually a secret community of geniuses assembled by the government to conduct top-secret research. What they’ve unwittingly created is a place where anything imaginable can happen… and does. Eureka stars Colin Ferguson, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Joe Morton, Erica Cerra, Neil Grayston, Niall Matter, James Callis and features Jordon Hinson. Co-creator Jaime Paglia and Bruce Miller are Executive Producers.

In addition to great ratings, Eureka has also achieved new creative heights including: a time-altering storyline that has reset the series raising both the drama and stakes for the main characters; the addition of James Callis (Battlestar Galactica) as the new character ‘Dr. Trevor Grant’; a first-ever crossover episode with Syfy’s Warehouse 13, a top-notch lineup of special guest stars including Ming-Na, Jaime Ray Newman, Ed Quinn, Wil Wheaton, Jamie Kennedy, Chris Parnell, Matt Frewer and Felicia Day; and a recently announced holiday episode slated to air in December.

“Eureka remains a steadfast performer for Syfy with its superb cast and perfect blend of drama, comedy and eye candy,” said Stern.  “Given what Jaime, Bruce and their entire team have done collectively to reinvent the show this year, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for season five.” Eureka airs Friday nights @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on Syfy.

The Bionic Woman's Lindsay Wagner Guest-Stars This Week on Syfy's Warehouse 13

Actress Lindsay Wagner as Warehouse 13's Dr. Vanessa Calder. Photo copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

LINDSAY Wagner, star of the iconic television series The Bionic Woman,will pay a house call to The Syfy Channel’s hit series Warehouse 13 in the episode For The Team, airing Tuesday, August 17th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST. Wagner will portray Dr. Vanessa Calder, the in-house Warehouse 13 doctor who is responsible for treating the investigative team as well as the super secret governing body known as The Regents.

Said Jack Kenny, Executive Producer/Showrunner, Warehouse 13: “Lindsay was a joy to work with and brought a wonderful and holistic charm to Dr. Calder.  I hope to see a lot more of her in the Warehouse -- and so does Artie (Saul Rubinek)!”

As noted above, photo copyright of The Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Stargate Atlantis' Rachel Luttrell Reminices On Relationships, Going Missing And Being The Queen

Rachel Luttrell as Stargate Atlantis' Teyla Emmagan. Photo copyright of MGM. 

When, in the Stargate Atlantis series premiere Rising, the Ancients city is in danger of being destroyed, our heroes use its Stargate to travel to Athos, another planet in the Pegasus Galaxy that, if necessary, they might be able to evacuate to. It is there that they meet Teyla Emmagen, the caring and spirited leader of the Athosian race. After one of her own kind betrays Teyla and the rest of the Athosians along with their human allies to the Wraith, she joins with the new residents of Atlantis to stop this parasitic alien race from once again culling the Pegasus Galaxy and, ultimately, reaching Earth.

As actress Rachel Luttrell grew more and more at ease playing Teyla over Atlantis' five years on the air, her character developed a close bond with her new teammates, many of whom became like family to her. How would Luttrell describe her onscreen relationships with the rest of the Atlantis crew?

"it's funny, but as you were asking that question, and I'm not joking, literally so many faces came into my mind, and the very first one was David Hewlett's [Dr. Rodney McKay]," says the actress. "I loved the relationship that Teyla had with MacKay. It was somewhat irreverent and yet lovable. My character would constantly roll her eyes, even if not physically but sometimes in her demeanor, at McKay, but it was always in a kind of affectionate way.

"I loved working, too, with Paul McGillion [Dr. Carson Beckett]. The relationship between his character and Teyla was also quite unique and lovely. I think from the beginning, she would go to Dr. Beckett and request help from him as well as advice when it came to her people. And then oftentimes off-screen, before we'd actually do takes, Paul and I would be in hysterics and laughing, which was always terrific.

"Colonel Sheppard [Joe Flanigan] and Teyla always had, I feel, a special and wonderful relationship that had so many dimensions to it," she continues. "A lot of those [dimensions] were sometimes unspoken, but I truly appreciated that relationship. I mean, Teyla just had an instant affinity towards Sheppard and felt an immediate level of comfort with him that she didn't initially get with the other team members. They had a deep friendship, understanding and respect for one another as well as a love for each other.

"With Dr. Weir, because Torri Higginson [Dr. Elizabeth Weir] and I started out as the sole female characters on the series, we had some amazing scenes together. It was always kind of great bouncing off the fact that here were these two strong female characters , both leaders in their own right, but coming from different backgrounds as well as societies, and still being able to arrive at decisions together. I always enjoyed performing with Torri and discussing our desire as characters to find an honest and deep respect for one another. I think we developed that, and I hope audiences were able to see it, too."

In Atlantis' second season, Teyla found a true kindred spirit in Ronon Dex (Jason Momoa), whose planet was invaded and most of his race culled or killed by the Wraith. He initially took Teyla and Colonel Sheppard prisoner while being hunted for sport by their common enemy, but once they persuaded him that they could be trusted, Ronon decided to make Atlantis his own home.

"What an incredible relationship was formed there," notes Luttrell. "Ronon and Teyla were the only two characters from the same galaxy and who shared a similar type of background, or at least one that was not dissimilar. They bonded on a level that the others simply could not due to their reference points, how they grew up, their understanding of the Wraith, and what it meant to them in terms of what these aliens did to their families and societies.

"I'm sort of touching on everybody, but what really stands out for me the most when I reflect upon the five seasons of the show, is that I had the opportunity to work with some really great and talented people. And the casting was such that although we were all so different, we all enjoyed each other's company and this was, I think, reflected in the relationships that our characters had with one another. So I loved working with every single one of my fellow actors and watching how our characters' relationships matured in their own way."

Of all Teyla's relationships, the one that she developed with the human/Wraith hybrid Michael (Connor Trinneer) eventually turned into an unwanted as well as dangerous one. "I don't want to sound too gushy, but I loved performing with Connor," says Luttrell. "The first time I met him it was great because he's an extremely talented actor who enjoys getting into the story. There's a certain appreciation and excitement when you're doing a scene with a fellow actor who is really, really on top of things and interested in the various nuances of character as well as relationship. Connor is certainly one of those actors and was from the get-go with the Michael character.

"With Michael's and Teyla's relationship, that was such a crazy and wonderful journey. My character was, at least in the beginning, truly sympathetic to his plight, and yet here was this man, creature, or whatever who was for all intents and purposes a Wraith, and therefore an entity who decimated her people. That was quite compelling to play, and something that carried through to the end where, sadly, there was absolutely no love loss, certainly for Teyla, when it comes to Michael. However, in those last few scenes and working with Connor, it was fascinating to discuss the fact that Michael's view of Teyla was that she could be his queen. She could be the one person who would understand him, and he really latched onto that. So for all his kind of diabolical undertones, and there were many, he honestly thought that their relationship could work."

Although the Wraith were the primary antagonist on Atlantis, there were plenty of other adversaries that gave our heroes a proverbial run for their money. In the fourth season story Missing, Teyla and Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite) are trapped off-world on New Athos and fighting for survival against the savage Bola Kai.

"Oh, my God, that was a wild and woolly ride, and for so many reasons," recalls Luttrell with a chuckle. "Emotionally it was crazy because I was pregnant with my son Caden. At that point I had not told anybody, with the exception of our producers and writers, and this was the very first episode that I told James Bamford, our stunt supervisor, of my condition. So that was going on, and then Jewel Staite and I were carpooling for that entire episode. She would come very, very early in the morning over to my place and then we'd drive together because we were shooting on-location, so she was also one of the first people I told that I was pregnant.

"Missing was an equally emotional as well as physical episode, and I was dealing with my pregnancy and doing the biggest fight sequence that I had probably done to date. One of the bad guys that I took on was actually my husband [actor/stuntman Loyd Bateman], so there we were trying to pull that off, knowing what was actually transpiring for us on a personal level, which was very interesting.

"This episode was terrific insofar as where it put Teyla in terms of the fact that now her people are all missing. What an incredibly emotional place to find herself, and playing that off Jewel was just lovely. She is a wonderful actress and a riot to work with. Jewel has this wry sense of humor, and I can't imagine going through that journey with anybody other than her because everything was an hilarious joke. It was pouring rain, freezing cold, there was mud everywhere, we were doing all sorts of strenuous stuff, and yet everything was funny with us, so thank God for that

"Also, the relationship between our two characters deepened. At the start, Teyla had absolutely no understanding at all of this woman and how inept she thought she was. Then, however, Keller totally rose to the occasion and found this inner strength. Perhaps it came though Teyla, or perhaps it was something that Keller initially had and she just needed it to be brought forth."

In a late season one Atlantis episode The Gift, Teyla experiences some disturbing nightmares that cause her to recall a time when she and her father were captured by the Wraith and forced to undergo a series of genetic experiments. As a result, Teyla discovers that she has the ability to link telepathically with the Wraith. For a handful of scenes, Luttrell had to undergo some prosthetics work. That, however, was minor compared to her character's transformation into a Wraith Queen in the year five story The Queen.

"I take my hat off to anybody who has to do that [wear heavy prosthetics], especially for an extended period of time because it's incredibly grueling, and you have to be so much more animated as well as on the ball in terms of your convictions for your character and the storytelling," explains the actress.

"To convey anything through that much make-up is a real challenge. On the other hand, though, it was deeply freeing because I had the opportunity to portray this other side of Teyla, because clearly this is Teyla, even though she has undergone this crazy transformation. Again, it was incredibly freeing to be able to perform in such a way that was dramatic, intense and full of centeredness. It's a completely different skill set that you have to use as an actor, and I was happy to be able to explore that.

"Besides the make-up, there was the amazing wardrobe that Val Halverson [series costume designer] created for Teyla's Queen, so when I walked onto the set I was already in-character. I wouldn't want to do it again," says Luttrell with a laugh, "but reflecting upon it, I do remember enjoying that aspect of it, although I would never have told anybody that while we were shooting," she jokes.

"This entire experience was further colored for me by the fact that I was a new mom. I was recently asked by someone how Caden handled all the make-up, because he was with me every single day at work, and he was amazing. At first I was terrified. I don't know how he would respond to me, and Joe Flanigan was [jokingly] adding fuel to the fire by telling me that I was going to have to pay for years and years of therapy for my child. However, when I walked into my trailer for the first time wearing all that horrendous make-up, Caden just giggled. He thought it was hilarious; here was Mom being crazy again."

Steve Eramo

As noted above, photo copyright of MGM, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

This Week On Being Human - 08 - 14 - 10

As much as George tries to keep his "inner beast" at bay, he continues to discover that that is easier said than done. Photo copyright of Touchpaper TV and the BBC.

SPOILER ALERT!! - George (Russell Tovey) embraces normality in a desperate attempt to contain the wolf. He gets a new job, a new girlfriend, and even a cage to transform in. But he soon recognizes that containing the wolf is an impossible task. Meanwhile, Annie (Lenora Crichlow) meets an enigmatic ghost who offers to help her keep Death at bay.  And Mitchell (Aidan Turner) falls in deeper with the vampires. Episode four airs Saturday, August 14th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/PST on BBC America.

As noted above, photo copyright of Touchpaper TV and the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Azita Ghanizada Cast In Syfy's Alphas, While Battlestar Galactica's Callum Keith Rennie Set To Guest-Star

Actress Azita Ghanizada. Photo copyright of the Syfy Channel.

THE Syfy Channel has announced additional casting for its previously announced pilot Alphas, inking actress Azita Ghanizada to co-star in the wry action-adventure project from writers Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk) and Michael Karnow, it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions, which is the studio for the project. She joins previously announced cast members David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Malik Yoba, Warren Christie and Laura Mennell. Additionally, Callum Keith Rennie has been signed to guest star in the pilot. 

Alphas is executive produced by Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein for BermanBraun Television and will be directed by Jack Bender (director and executive producer of Lost). Production is underway in Toronto. 

Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens whose brain anomalies imbue them with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Taking the law into their own hands, the unlikely team, led by Dr. Lee Rosen (David Strathairn) investigates cases that suggest other Alpha activity to uncover what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able or willing to solve. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not always visible powers as they work to solve crimes, stop the ticking time bomb and catch the enemy.

Azita Ghanizada plays Rachel who, from an early age, has been able to “hyper-intensify” her senses, one at a time – vision, hearing, taste, and smell.   Her mother and father – who are conservative parents -- thought she was cursed and discouraged this unique and amazing ability.  Overly sensitive – literally – Rachel has always felt ashamed and rejected.  With Dr. Rosen’s help and encouragement, she’s learning to appreciate her skill and grow increasingly confident and adventurous. 

Ghanizada’s credits include appearances on the television series Castle, Ghost Whisperer, Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, Psych, The Closer, Numbers and The Wedding Bells.

Callum Keith Rennie plays Don Wilson, a Washington bureaucrat, and Lee Rosen’s superior and contact inside the Pentagon.

Actor Callum Keith Rennie. Photo copyright of The Syfy Channel. 

Rennie is no stranger to Syfy having portrayed Leoben, a Cylon on the critically acclaimed series Battlestar Galatica throughout its four season-run on the channel. Other roles include memorable arcs on 24 and Flash Forward, Lew Ashby on Californication, and he was featured on Syfy’s Emmy-winning miniseries smash Tin Man.

As noted above, photos copyright of The Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Merlin's Third Season To Air On Syfy

Syfy Channel audiences can look forward to seeing the further adventures of young Prince Arthur (Bradley James) and Merlin (Colin Morgan) in 2011. Photo copyright of the BBC. 

THE Syfy Channel will rekindle the magic of Camelot, announcing today the acquisition from FremantleMedia Enterprises of the third season of the popular Merlin series, which will make its U.S. television premiere on Syfy in early 2011.

In making the announcement, Chris Regina, Vice President, Programming and Original Movies, Syfy, said: “The enchanting imagination of Merlin proved very popular with our audience and we’re delighted to bring the series back for a third season on Syfy.”

Commented Lisa Honig, SVP, Program Distribution FME North America: ‘‘We are extremely excited about the next season of Merlin returning on Syfy, following the success we had with the second series.  We look forward to growing the audience and feeding the appetite of the devotees who already love the program, the characters and the brand.”

Merlin creator and executive producer Johnny Capps said: “We are thrilled that Syfy will be broadcasting the third series of Merlin. The upcoming season will add an exciting new twist to Merlin's ongoing struggle to protect Prince Arthur, as well as thrilling audiences with bigger and bolder action sequences, stunning CGI monsters, mysterious villains and comic fun for all the family.”

Merlin returns with a host of brand new guest stars joining the popular regular cast to enthrall audiences over the 13-week run. In this third season, there is a familiar blend of magic, monsters and mayhem, but when secrets are exposed and old friends choose new sides, it is clear that the kingdom of Camelot will never be the same again.

Warwick Davis (The Harry Potter Series, The Chronicles of Narnia) will play Grettir, Miriam Margoyles (The Harry Potter Series, Being Julia) will play Grunhilda, and Mark Williams (The Harry Potter Series, The Fast Show) is Goblin. Guest stars from the previous season such as Emilia Fox (The Pianist and Ballet Shoes) who plays Morgause, and Santiago Cabrera (Heroes and Che), who plays Launcelot, will also be returning for this series.

Colin Morgan returns as Merlin, who must fulfill his destiny of protecting the young Prince Arthur (Bradley James) and the kingdom of Camelot, a place where magic has been banned by the ruthless King Uther (Anthony Head). They rejoin Katie McGrath as the mesmerizing Morgana, the King’s ward who has a secret she dare not reveal, Angel Coulby as her loyal maid Gwen, and Richard Wilsonas wise Court physician Gaius. Legendary actor John Hurt also returns to provide the Voice of the Great Dragon.

The show is produced and created by the award winning team at Shine TV. FME holds the exclusive distribution, home entertainment and licensing rights to Merlin (known as The Adventures of Merlin in the rest of the world outside the US and UK) and has sold the series to over 52 broadcasters in more than 180 countries including Network Ten in Australia, MICO in Japan and RTL in Germany.

This third season of Merlin will air in the UK on BBC One in September.

As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!